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Just returned from an Our Griffins run of shows. temps are cold. everyone here (NEPA) is sort of done with it. looking towards spring.

the batch of material that I’ve written partly with my father will likely come into existence this year even if its just in a very low key way. some of these tunes i feel like would really do some good on new ears and i am trying to figure out the best way to get them out….to you…i guess….or whoever wants to hear them.

i will test a few out up in wilkesbarre next week. should be a good time. (jan 31st at bottlenecks) feel free to msg me if you are interested in going.

Working with OG has been very refreshing from the past few years. I feel extremely grateful to be a part of this. I think everyone involved does and in recognizing that it is so special, it is being taken care in such a way that things won’t be undone later due to a lack of detail or a bad read. I don’t feel like I am getting over excited and trying to take on more than i should, in fact 2013 was probably the first time I was turning down things because it did not seem like a good idea to load my plate up with so many different things. Ive done that for a long time and is what I am most familiar with….to be working on one or 2 projects really is foreign to me. Im used to a much more scattered amount of work. So with an occasional tour or gig here and there you will mostly see me with OG. The “other” work I will be doing has to do with hopefully not leaving my house. I have a little studio upstairs and a rehearsal spot downstairs. Im looking for more things to do in the film score front as well as working with folks on songwriting and sort of act as a helpful ear. If you are interested in working with me..please do say so.

customs was easy. tsa.. a nightmare….i ended up bringing way more than i needed but it was peace of mind. i just played alot of music in the middle of the ocean. keller williams, alo, and the everyone orchestra were gracious enough to have me. I was lucky enough to hop on EO after find out fishman was not going to make it on the boat. i almost wore a dress….almost.

it was nice catch some old friends. JC is like family and i would like to think i have grown up on that boat to some extent. alot of musical growth. many realizations…getting to see all these great musicians kill it night after night on absolutely nooo sleep. super inspiring.

it was great to see drummer friends like adam deitch (who i have been listening to since i was 15), stanton moore, dave brogan, gertner, there are more. adam in particular has always been very supportive and I cant thank him enough for that. short exchanges are all you get on jam cruise…everyone is moving so much….it is extremely fast and you have to sort of be ok with that. and i am. but seeing him and getting to catch up is great. same with the whole alo crew. always been willing to let me get up there with them and hit a conga or shake a shaker. the list goes on. but i must say the highlight for me was the deck off of my room from which carla and i completely let 2013 go. it was a difficult year for me transition projects and trying to grow as a player and composer and maintaining a life. I was hard on myself and got in the way of productivity thinking i needed things i didnt. alot of being productive has to do with not panicking about where you are within that journey. be ok with who you are and what you are capable of. you can find alot of peace in that. from there, good work can be done.

i got back from miami a few days ago. it took me atleast a day to realize i wasnt sick before i could get back to work. hung with dog and carla cooked. we had her parents over and played board games. it was an incredibly normal thing to do. which was foreign to me, but something i needed badly. more apples to apples.

getting back on MY kit felt good. there is always tooo much to do. my warm up has moved from rudiments to practicing down entire sets of music. sometimes in repetition if i can find the time. solo sets, XVSK sets, our griffins… all gigs im doing. i used to just practice to albums but for the first time im kind of realizing how important it is to practice for the gigs you have. religiously if you can. this is the first time i am super happy with where i am and who i am surrounding myself with musical. so it is a pleasure to play this music every day. it feels great.

hey anyone who reads this…its been a whirlwind of a few months with moving, cross-country gigs, studio sessions trying to maintain healthy relationship and of course an ill behaved puppy. on top of this ive composed about 30 minutes in the sketch form of an album that im hoping to put out in the new year. most likely taking on a film score in the new year in addition to growing a band. lots and lots to think about for having to leave the country in couple days for some gigs. hopefully the lack of communication does some good for me.

october was a great month for steve kimock band and our griffins. i did alot of touring up and down the east coast plus an incredibly tiring PA —> FL —> MA in 2 days. lots of flying training for a small amount of music. try not to think about it and just listen to as many podcasts as possible or bang out a couple of loops on reason.

november had less on the books but just as busy rehearsing, and working up some stuff with the OG, and trying to get in touch about our kimock record that NEEDS to get finished. this month was spent on the phone. i was also able to do some shows with the everyone orchestra, our griffins and steve kimock and move my entire life across town. better for it

december has been mostly used for composing alot of music for a show im doing coming up with dana hawkins and evan marien in january. —> here is some of evan and dana…siked and nervous for this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XCJ6p18UJw

did a few our griffins shows and some stuff with keller williams and sk not to mention closing out the blockley with everyone orchestra. sad to see that place go. members of moe, lotus, TAB, lettuce, american babies, dj logic and many others participated. RIP Blockley

here is some stuff im excited about coming up that i would love to see you at.

just got back from 4 shows with kimock band. going back out again tomorrow (dates below). i have been listening to alot of ilan rubin lately. easily my favorite drummer right now. he plays open handed. i have dabbled with it this year but now i am really trying adapt it into something i can use live. alot of my open handed playing right now is very one dimensional but ya gotta start somewhere. the patterns are becoming easier every day and when i get on the kit it actually sounds better than it feels when i listen back.